West Michigan Real Estate Market

Both Buyers and Sellers Are Stressed Right Now

We have a tale of two worlds in our market right now:

First, buyers are facing serious multiple-offer scenarios. That, coupled with increasing rates (because of political factors), is making the market especially difficult for buyers.

On the other side, sellers are taking an aggressive approach and pushing for more aggressive listing prices because they keep hearing about how hot the market is, then experience disappointment when their listing sits on the market, and they watch their neighbor sell in days, rather than months.

This, unfortunately, means that it’s a tricky market for both buyers and sellers.

Our team studies the market closely, not just locally but nationally, to watch trends and pricing, to help both buyers and sellers navigate these challenges. Reach out at the number below to connect with a local agent.

For now, let’s take a closer look at the numbers.

The Number of Homes for Sale is Increasing

We’ve seen a decrease in the number of new listings hitting the market in the last 6 months. This is mostly attributed to seasonality and sellers not wanting to list over the holidays.

However, the Market is Still Sweet for Sellers

5-6 months of inventory is considered a balanced market for buyers and sellers. With only 0.9 months of inventory, the market is considered to be a seller’s market. When interest rates were below 4%, the demand for houses increased drastically. Now that we are seeing higher interest rates, there are slightly fewer people interested in buying homes, and therefore there is less competition.

But, Home Prices Have Decreased

Home prices in the Greater Grand Rapids area have decreased over the past 6 months.

If you are a seller wanting to aggressively overprice your home due to increased buyer activity and competition, we recommend that you check in with your Agent to make sure the price isn’t so high that it will sit on the market, especially as we’re noticing sale prices are going down.

However, it’s common to see homes sell for more during the summertime. Last year’s average home price for June 2025 was $373,309, which represents a 5.3% increase compared to the same period in March of 2025 when the average home price was $354,386.

West Michigan Market Recap:

*Stats taken from Flexmls over a year-long period (March 2025-March 2026)

Work With a Compassionate Real Estate Agent

Navigating the real estate market can be complex, especially during a time of constant changes, seasons, and political factors. Partnering with one of our real estate Agents can help you answer questions about the market and make decisions based on it.

*Stats from Flexmls – West Michigan area includes the following: Kent County, Georgetown and Jamestown Townships in southeastern Ottawa County, Ionia County, the 6 townships in northeastern Allegan County, and the northern half of Barry County (including all of Gun Lake).